Cabinet expansion in Uttar Pradesh on the cards

Even as talk of cabinet expansion gathers pace in states such as Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, preparations are under way for a reshuffle in Uttar Pradesh.

Sources told ET that the BJP core committee meeting held at Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's residence in Lucknow on December 30 discussed possible names for induction into the state cabinet. Newly appointed state BJP president Pankaj Choudhary was present and later held discussions with party leadership in Delhi.

The UP government currently has 54 ministers, including the chief minister, against a maximum permissible strength of 60. This is expected to be the last expansion before the 2027 election cycle. The exercise is therefore focused on regional balance and rationalisation of portfolios.


With both the chief minister and the state party president hailing from eastern UP, greater representation is expected for western UP and Bundelkhand. Outgoing state BJP president Bhupendra Choudhary is among the possible inductees, along with other leaders from western UP.

The party is also weighing the option of increasing Scheduled Caste representation, as the current leadership profile leans heavily towards upper castes and OBCs. Noida MLA Pankaj Singh is also being discussed as a potential entrant.

NDA allies, meanwhile, have sought additional cabinet berths, though the BJP has indicated that the reshuffle is largely an internal exercise.